Machine for operating upon sheet materials



Nav. 3, 1%. c. E. HARDENBROOK, JR

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIALS Filed July 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1936.

c. E. HARDENBROOK, JR 7 2,059,344 MACHINE F OR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jul 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE. FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIALS Application July 14, 1934, Serial No. 735,234

14 Claims.

One type of machine which is commonly used in the manufacture of shoes for producing ornamental perforations or cut-outs in Vamps or other parts of shoes, comprises a press having a support and a plunger reciprocable relatively to the support for forcing adie through a blank to be operated upon. It is desirable that perforations or cut-outs formed in shoe part blanks be accurately located relatively to the marginal or other portions of the blanks with the result that it is common practice to secure a blank in predetermined position relatively to the cutting edges of the die either by hand or by mechanical means prior to locating the die and work in operative position relatively to the plunger of the machine. If the particular die being used is heavy the operator must exert considerable effort in moving the die into or out of operative position in the machine.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the type referred to which will be effective in its operation in ornamenting shoe part blanks and at the same time will be particularly adapted to relieve the operator from unnecessary effort in the operation of the machine and in the handling of dies. To this end and as shown, the invention provides in a perforating machine a die comprising a base, cutting members mounted on the base, together with members disposed in the proximity of the cutting members for supporting the die against pressure applied to the cutting members.

This arrangement is advantageous in that the p supporting members reinforce the base in areas where pressure is applied and where strength is needed whereas the rest of the die may be of light construction in order that its total weight will be at a minimum.

In another aspect the invention provides a die support arranged to be positioned upon the bed of the machine, and provided with members for guiding a die into and outof operative position relatively to the plunger of the machine, said members being adjustable into various positions laterally of the plunger whereby dies of different sizes can be readily located in the machine.

These and other features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following 55 detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side view partly in section of a perforating machine illustrating one embodiment of 5 the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine showing a die base plate and die in operative position in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the die base plate and an end of one of the adjustable rails in position thereon;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the die base plate with a die in position thereon;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a preferred form of die; and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the die showing the arrangement of the cutting members and stripper plate.

The machine shown in Fig. 1 is a perforating machine of the type illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 1,667,184, granted April 24, 1928, upon an application filed in the name of M. H. Ballard and comprises a frame l0 having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined bed [2 for supporting a die 14 in operative relation to a reciprocable plunger I 6 which carries the usual paper backing strip [8 arranged to be fed across the face thereof by means of rolls 20.

The die I 4 comprises a base plate 22 (Figs. 2 and 6) to which is secured a punch plate 24 within which are positioned cutting members including punch tubes 26, and cut-out dies 28 which rest upon the base plate 22, and a trimming knife 30 (Fig. 4) mounted upon the base plate. There is also provided a spring-pressed gage 32 for locating blanks such as Vamps relatively to the punch tubes and other cutting members. Mounted upon the punch plate 24 is a stripper plate 34 positioned upon studs 36 and normally forced upwardly above the edges of the punch tubes 26 by springs 38. The stripper plate has therein a plurality of openings 40 in alinement with the punch tubes 26 and other openings 42 in alinement with the cut-out dies 28 to permit operation of the tubes and cut-out dies through the plate when the plunger I6 is brought down upon the work. The base plate 22 is provided with clearance openings 44 and 45 (Fig. 5) in alinement with the punch tubes 26 and dies 28 for the disposal of waste pieces of stock resulting from the cutting operations. The stripper plate carries a spring clamp 46 for holding the work thereon in operative position relatively to the cutting members.

The die M is mounted for movement relatively to the plunger it upon supports comprising rails extending along opposite sides of the base plate and secured thereto by studs 39 (Fig.

To reinforce the central portions of the die adjacent to the tubes where the greater part of the pressure upon the die in operation is exerted, there are provided projections comprising strips of metal 59 of the same thickness as the rails 68 secured by screws iii to the under side of central portions of the die l i adjacent to the clearance openings i l and 15 and arranged to engage the bed of the machine or other supporting surface. As shown, the strips are curved to correspond to the curvature of the line of punch tubes 26 in order to reinforce the plate close to the points where greatest pressure is applied. This construction does away with the necessity for a heavy base plate which would otherwise be required and contributes to the lightness of the die.

The machine shown in Fig. 1 is adapted for use with dies for operating upon fiat work or with anvil dies which are utilized to operate upon closed uppers. In order to provide for operation upon anvil dies there must be more clearance between the plunger 16 and the bed I 2 than would be necessary if the machine were adapted for operation upon fiat dies alone. Therefore, in order to render the machine operable for use with flat dies there is provided a die base plate 52 (Figs. 2, 3, and l) upon which the die I4 is slidable into and out of operative position relatively to the plunger it. This die base plate extends the full width of the central portion of the machine and is provided with tongues 53 on oppo site sides thereof making engagement with rails 56 secured to the side walls of the frame l0 whereby the base plate can be readily inserted in or withdrawn from the machine. For retaining the base plate in fixed position relatively to the axis of the plunger l6 the base plate has a bracket be secured thereto by screws 58, said bracket carrying a rod Gil adapted to engage a boss 62 on the front of the machine. The position of the plate along the heel I2 is determined by the setting of the rod 69 which is held in place by a set screw 64.

Mechanism is provided for guiding the die M during its movements inwardly to or outwardly from its operative position beneath the plunger it so that the die can be readily located centrally of the plunger. To this end, there are two guiding members or rails 65 (Fig. 4), detachably secured to the base plate 52, which form Walls adapted to engage and guide the rails 48 on the die. The rails 66 have portions which extend forwardly of the machine so that the die M can be entirely withdrawn from beneath the plunger 56, in which case the die is supported by the inner ends of rails 48 which engage the plate 52 and by opposite marginal edge portions 68 of the plate 22 which project slightly beyond the outer edges of the rails 38 and rest upon the outer ends of the rails 56 when the die is pulled outwardly.

The rails 86 are mounted for adjustment laterally of the base plate into positions in which they are operative to engage dies of difierent sizes. To accomplish this the base plate 52, along its forward edge, has a plurality of openings each of which is adapted to receive the end of a springpressed plunger l2 slidably mounted in an ear it near one end of each of the rails 66 (Fig. 1).

The other end of each rail is provided with a hooked portion '66 adapted to enter one or another of recesses 18 in the rearward portion of the die base 52 and in alinement respectively with the openings 70. The forward portion of each of the rails is provided with a knob 80 to facilitate in the detachment of the rails. This is done by forcing a rail rearwardly of the machine until the hook 76 is free from the slot 18 engaged by the end then tilting the hooked end of the rail upwardly to clear the edge of the base plate. The rail can then be withdrawn by bringing it forwardly to remove the plunger 12 from the opening H3 engaged by it. A rail can readily be replaced by inserting the end of the plunger 12 in a desired opening it) and pressing upon the knob 80 to compress the plunger until the hooked end of the rail can be located in one of the slots 18. The positioning of the rails is facilitated by two series of lines 8! (Fig. 4) marked upon the upper surface of the base plate, lines of the series being numbered correspondingly outwardly of the central portion of the plate to indicate the positions of the rails for difierent sizes of dies. Lines having the same numbers are equally spaced rom the axis of the plate and are so located that when the inner edges of the rails are positioned along such lines the hooked portions 76 and the plungers "(2 of the rails will be in alinement with the proper slots 78 and openings 10 operable to locate the rails on the plate so that a die in engagement therewith will be located centrally of the plunger 56. This construction is advantageous in that it is not necessary to make use of dies substantially wider than the greatest lateral extent of the blank to be operated on. That is, it is unnecessary to make use of a wider punch plate than is sufficient to support the work and the cutting members.

In order to retain the die M at the outer ends of the rails 66 during location of the work on the die, I have provided a latch 32 (Fig. 1) adapted to engage a pin 8t on the die. The latch is pivoted upon an L-shaped plate 83 detachably carried by one of the rails 66. The plate has a horizontal portion 88 extending over the rail 66 and a depending portion 9!! in engagement with one side of the rail. The plate is provided with two notches 92 each of which is adapted to be engaged by one of two pins 94 and 95 on the rail 66 so that the plate can be located in any one of four positions outwardly of the rail dependent upon the size of the die to be used. The plate 86 is pivotally and slidably mounted on the rail by means of a pin 96 which extends into an elongated slot 98 in one side of the rail. This construction facilitates the removal and adjustment of the plate 86 into position outwardly of the rail so that it can be swung over the pin 94 or similarly adjusted relatively to pin 95 in adjusting the position of the latch 82 outwardly of the rail. The end of the latch 82 is normally held in downward position against the upper surface of the plate 86 by means of a spring WU. The latch is adapted to engage the pin 84 on the die it as the die is slid outwardly on the rails the latch being provided with a hook portion H22 which upon engagement with the pin 84 will raise the latch until the end thereof passes over the pin thus locking the die in inoperative position at the outer ends of the rails. When an operator has located a blank upon the die, depression of the spring will cause release of the hook portion H32 of the latch with the result that the die will be released and slide under the force of gravity along the surface l2 into position beneath the plunger 16, this sliding movement being arrested by a pin I04 located on the base plate 52 in position to engage the rearward end of the die plate 22.

In operation, the die 14 is slid outwardly from the bed l2 and along the rails 66 until the pin 84 is engaged by the latch 82 which holds the die in inoperative position forwardly of the plunger IS. The operator locates a blank upon the stripper plate 34 by means of the gage 32, the blank being held in predetermined position relatively to the cutting members 26, 28, and 30 by the clamp 46. Upon release of the latch the die slides by gravity along the rails into operative position beneath the plunger "5 which is operated to force the cutting members through the blank.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A die comprising a plate, a plurality of punch tubes mounted upon one side of the plate, clearance openings extending through the plate in alinement with the punch tubes, and freely extending projections upon the other side of the plate adjacent to the clearance openings for slidably supporting the plate above the bed of a perforating machine.

2. A perforating die comprising a plate, a plurality of cutting members secured to the plate, a pair of rails secured to the under side of the plate along opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of studs located between the rails for reinforcing the plate at points adjacent to the cutting members.

3. A perforating die comprising a base plate, a plurality of cutting members positioned upon one side of the plate, a plurality of rails carried upon the other side of the plate, and projections for reinforcing the plate at points between the rails and adjacent to the cutting members.

4. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a die mounted upon the bed and comprising a plate, cutting members carried by the plate, and members secured to the die and positioned between the plate and the bed for slidingly engaging the latter, members secured to the bed for guiding the die in its movements toward and away from operative position relatively to the plunger, and members secured to the plate for engaging the guide members.

5. A perforating machine comprising a bed inclined downwardly and rearwardly of the machine, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a plurality of rails mounted upon the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a perforating die positioned between the rails and having projections slidably engaging the bed to support the die, and members for engaging the rails to guide the die in movements toward and from the operative position relatively to the plunger.

6. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a die slidably mounted upon the bed, and means for guiding the die toward and from operative position relatively to the plunger comprising a plurality of rails each having means for engaging the bed for locating the rails selectively in various positions transversely of the bed.

'7. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a die slidably mounted upon the bed, and means for guiding the die toward and away from operative position relatively to the plunger comprising a plurality of rails extending longitudinally of the bed, and projections extending from each of the rails arranged to engage the bed and detachably securing the rails thereto.

8. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a die supporting plate carried by the bed, the plate having a plurality of openings in opposite end portions thereof, and a plurality of die guiding members each having projections adapted to enter one or another of the openings in one end of the plate, and a spring pressed plunger adapted to enter an opening in the other end of the plate for releasably securing the guiding members to the plate.

9. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a die support carried by the bed, a die slidably mounted upon the support, means for guiding the die in its movements along the support comprising a rail extending longitudinally of the support, the support having a plurality of openings extending along the ends thereof, means for detachably securing the rail to the support including a hooked portion upon one end of the rail adapted to enter one of the openings in one end of the support, and a spring-pressed plunger carried at the other end of the rail adapted to enter one of the openings in the other end of the support.

10. A perforating machine comprising a frame, a die support mounted in the frame, a die slidably mounted upon the support, members for guiding the die along the support, and means for securing each of the guiding members tothe support in any one of several positions laterally of the center line of the support.

11. A perforating machine comprising a frame, a die support mounted in the frame, members for positioning a die upon the support comprising rails each having at the ends thereof means for securing the rail to the support, and the support having lines marked upon a surface thereof for indicating operative positions of the rails relatively to the center line of the support for dies of different sizes.

12. A perforating machine comprising a bed inclined downwardly and rearwardly of the machine, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, a die slidably mounted upon the bed, a plurality of rails mounted upon the bed for guiding the die into and out of operative position relatively to the plunger, means for securing the die in inoperative position outwardly of the rails comprising a pin mounted upon the die and a latch mounted upon one of the rails for engaging the pin.

13. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a die slidably mounted upon the bed, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relatively to the bed, members mounted upon the bed for guiding the die into and out of operative position relatively to the plunger, and means for securing the die in inoperative position outwardly of the guiding members including a latch mounted upon one of the guiding members, and means for locating the latch selectively in various positions outwardly of the guiding members.

14. A perforating machine comprising a bed, a die slidably mounted upon the bed, a plurality of members mounted upon the bed for guiding the die in its movements along the bed, and means associated with one of the guiding members for securing the die selectively in various positions outwardly of the guiding members.

CHARLES E. HARDENBROOK, JR. 

